Busch Gardens Williamsburg's newest ride opens to the general public Friday.
The promise of thrill rides, souvenirs and nonstop entertainment led tens of thousands of motorists to crowd Virginia highways on their way to Hanover County to be among the first to visit what promised to be one of the biggest amusement parks in the country.
On its opening day in May 1975, Kings Dominion’s largest attraction included its roller coaster named the Rebel Yell. The coaster was later renamed to Racer 75.
In late April 1975, landscape workers prepared gardens in front of the Eiffel Tower replica at Kings Dominion in Doswell. The theme park opened days later on May 3.
In May 1975, Gov. Mills Godwin greeted a porpoise on the opening day of Kings Dominion in Doswell. The theme park opened with 15 attractions; its Lion Country Safari area had opened a year before.
A dozen visitors to Busch Gardens: The Old Country in May 1975 took a fast-paced ride.
In May 1975, Gov. Mills Godwin and Mrs. August Busch III rode the lead car around the Le Mans track in the French village of the new Busch Gardens: The Old Country theme park near Williamsburg. The governor and Anheuser-Busch executives took part in the dedication of the park, which had opened to the public the previous weekend and drew more than 30,000 visitors.
PHOTOS: Kings Dominion roller coasters
Riders on the new Kings Dominion roller coaster, The Italian Job on 5/25/06.
Riders on the new Kings Dominion roller coaster, The Italian Job on 5/25/06.
Riders on the new Kings Dominion roller coaster, The Italian Job on 5/25/06.
Riders on the new Kings Dominion roller coaster, The Italian Job leave the station on 5/25/06.
Riders on the new Kings Dominion roller coaster, The Italian Job on 5/25/06.
Times Dispatch reporter Will Jones shows his uncertainty about riding the new Kings Dominion roller coaster, The Italian Job on 5/25/06
People ride Kings Dominion's newest ride, the Dominator, on media day Tuesday, May 20, 2008. The world's longest floorless coaster is the park's 14th roller coaster.
People ride Kings Dominion's newest ride, the Dominator, on media day Tuesday, May 20, 2008. The world's longest floorless coaster is the park's 14th roller coaster.
People ride Kings Dominion's newest ride, the Dominator, on media day Tuesday, May 20, 2008. The world's longest floorless coaster is the park's 14th roller coaster.
People ride Kings Dominion's newest ride, the Dominator, on media day Tuesday, May 20, 2008. The world's longest floorless coaster is the park's 14th roller coaster.
People ride Kings Dominion's newest ride, the Dominator, on media day Tuesday, May 20, 2008. The world's longest floorless coaster is the park's 14th roller coaster.
People ride Kings Dominion's newest ride, the Dominator, on media day Tuesday, May 20, 2008. The world's longest floorless coaster is the park's 14th roller coaster.
People ride Kings Dominion's newest ride, the Dominator, on media day Tuesday, May 20, 2008. The world's longest floorless coaster is the park's 14th roller coaster.
Kings Dominion's new roller coaster Intimidator 305.
Thumbs up from the first riders on Kings Dominion's new roller coaster the Intimidator 305, (front, left to right) Jeff Steiner, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Richard L. Kinzel, CEO of Cedar Fair.
Kings Dominion's new roller coaster the Intimidator 305.
Kings Dominion's new roller coaster the Intimidator 305.
Kings Dominion's new roller coaster the Intimidator 305.
Riders on Kings Dominion's new roller coaster the Intimidator 305.
Roller-coaster enthusiasts Paul Hindle (left) of Manchester, England and David Elvy of Barcelona, Spain get set for a ride on Volcano, the Blast Coaster at Kings Dominion. They and others on the ride are with the European Coaster Club. They are in the US to visit 15 theme parks in 15 days, riding as many of the roller coasters as possbile. Their two-week trip will end in Toronto, Canada.
Roller-coaster enthusiasts ride Volcano, the Blast Coaster at Kings Dominion. They and others on the ride are with the European Coaster Club. They are in the US to visit 16 theme parks in 15 days, riding as many of the roller coasters as possbile. Their two-week trip will end in Toronto, Canada.
Roller-coaster enthusiasts with the European Coaster Club ride "Volcano, the Blast Coaster" at Kings Dominion. In the front row are Gaelle Delphis (left) and her father, Yvonn Delphis, from Nancy, France.
Roller-coaster enthusiasts ride The Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion. They and others on the ride are with the European Coaster Club. The 62 coaster riders are in the US to visit 16 theme parks in 15 days, riding as many of the roller coasters as possbile. Their two-week trip will end in Toronto, Canada. (NOTE of the 62, 54 are from Europe; 8 from the US).
The Woodstock Express ride in the expanded Planet Snoopy section at King's Dominion.
In March 1988, Kings Dominion introduced the Avalanche. The new ride resembled a bobsled run – and even got a thumbs-up from members of that year’s Jamaican Olympic bobsled team, who visited the park to help introduce the ride. The Avalanche, which lasts 90 seconds and reaches a speed of 41 mph, is still operating today.
Visitors to Kings Dominion ride the Anaconda. Kings Dominion opened for the season Saturday, April 5, 2014. The amusement park is celebrating its 40th year.
Kings Dominion's new roller coaster Intimidator 305.
This is the turn on the Shockwave roller coaster where Timothy Fan fell off to his death Monday, August 23, at Paramount's Kings Dominion. Photo taken Thursday, August 26, 1999.
The Shockwave roller coaster at Paramount's Kings Dominion photographed Thursday, August 26, 1999.
This is the turn on the Shockwave roller coaster where Timothy Fan fell off to his death Monday, August 23, at Paramount's Kings Dominion. Photo taken Thursday, August 26, 1999.
Riders on one of King's Dominion's roller coasters invert near the Eiffel Tower at the Hanover County theme park Monday, June 29, 1998.
Students used measurement tools to estimate the g-forces on sections of roller coasters at Kings Dominion, like this loop in the Shockwave on May 15, 1998.
NHAN AND KATY'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE -- Nhan Nguyen and Katy Wischow did Paramount's King's Dominion. The theme park is a very popular hang out for teens with its movie theming and water attractions. Here, they ride the ShockWave, a stand-up roller coaster.
Riders on the Anaconda roller coaster at King's Dominion.
Coaster Enthusiasts, 800 of them from across the country, participated in three days of coaster-riding and activities at Kings Dominion theme park.
Richard Munsh, left, and Paul Greenwald enjoy their ride on the Rebel Yell roller coaster at Paramount's King's Dominion. They and others are part of the American Coaster Enthusiasts convention. Munsh and Greenwald are co-founders of the ACE.
"From the Archives" is a series of stories exploring the history of Richmond and the region through the files of The Times-Dispatch. Have a topic you'd like us to check out? Email reporter Jeff Terich at jterich@timesdispatch.com and visit richmond.com to see more from our archives.
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Reporter Eric Kolenich rides The Big Bad Wolf
Busch Gardens Williamsburg's newest ride opens to the general public Friday.
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